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Record visitor numbers for Custom Show Emirates 2017 , Abu Dhabi , March 30 – April 1
The third annual Custom Show Emirates ( March 30 – April 1 ) drew record crowds to the 36,000 sq m ( 380,000 sq ft ) Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center ( ADNEC ), and is now firmly established as the leading expo destination for petrol heads from the UAE ( United Arab Emirates ) and wider Middle Eastern markets with bikes , cars , stunts and drift shows , with 25 teams and many other activities attracting almost 40,000 visitors . In the V2 area , Indian and Harley-Davidson drew the crowds in , with both manufacturers continuing to open up the market in the Middle East and seeing sales grow steadily . Sales numbers are still relatively modest , but with some 1.6 bn potential consumers across the Muslim world as a whole , one third of whom are under the age of 15 and two thirds under 30 , it isn ’ t only American , European and Japanese motorcycle manufacturers who are eying the potential $ 2.6 trillion plus of disposable income that the Arab and broader Muslim markets of the Near , Mid and Far East represent . Aftermarket exhibitors included Augustin Motorcycles and Schrammwerk from Germany , Dutch sound-adjustable exhaust specialist Dr Jekill & Mr Hyde and Black Duck Parts from Spain - in addition to several of the emerging Emirates and wider Middle East based custom shops . A show highlight was the Middle East Biker Build- Off , which saw current Las Vegas champion Pete Pearson ( Rocket Bobs , UK ) pitted against ( relatively ) local builder Hussain Salmeen of Kuwait Choppers . Pearson ’ s was a Rocket Bobs built swingarm frame based special with a 1,750 ccm 11:1 compression ratio Shovel engine , with Hussain Salmeen opting for a frameless bike with the Twin Cam engine as a stressed member ( called ‘ Junk Project ’). The public voters judged their “ local hero ” Kuwait Choppers to have won , but in a gesture that summed up the friendly and supportive rivalry that characterized their contest , Hussain Salmeen wanted to give the trophy to Pete Pearson – who ’ s solution was to split it in half for shared honors ! The formula for the weekend is that of a car show that is affiliated to SEMA , which offers a ‘ Showwithin-Show ’ ( SEMA Middle East ) exhibit opportunity for its members , with Swiss-Custom , the custom bike show staged at the respected annual Swiss-Moto in Zurich every year , backing the custom bike competition with bike freight and travel expense prizing for the winner to compete at their show from 22-25 February 2018 . Altogether some 80 bikes competed in the custom bike show , with Engels Schmiede ( Uetersen , Germany ) winning the Radical class and Best Paint , and Bobber Garage winning the Best Oldtimer class . Best of Show went to TT Custom , who were also selected by Swiss-Moto to go to their show in 2018 . Organized by respected journalist , photographer and promoter Frank Sander ( Thunder Media ), the event is the largest show of its kind in the Middle East , with Abu Dhabi the administrative capital and largest of the seven countries that make up the 9.1m population of the UAE . Competitors included leading Emirati customizers such as Lycan Custom , Custom Bikes Al Ain and Sheik Customs , in addition to European , Australian , Chinese and American competitors . The bike show requires all entries to be runners , and classes include scooters , OEM bikes , three-wheelers , classic / vintage bikes , Bobbers , streetbikes , metric cruisers , modified Harleys , Streetfighters ( very popular in performance oriented Middle East ), Sportsters and customized Indian models and tourers , in addition to radical customs . Next year ' s Custom Show Emirates will again be staged at Abu Dhabi , UAE , from 29 to 31 March 2018 .
www . customshowemirates . com
The Middle East Biker Build-Off saw current Las Vegas champion Pete Pearson ( Rocket Bobs , UK , seen here on the left ) pitted against ( relatively ) local builder Hussain Salmeen of Kuwait Choppers
Exhibitors included Black Duck Parts from Barcelona , Spain ( Quim Carrascosa Garcia seen here )
Some 80 bikes competed in the custom bike show
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